§ 27. Mr. K. LINDSAYasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Education the proportion of rural areas in which re-organisation under the Hadow scheme has been completed; and whether he will stimulate the process by raising the grant to 50 per cent.?
§ Mr. RAMSBOTHAMOn the 31st March of this year the number of pupils aged 11 and over on the books of public elementary schools in the rural parts of counties in England and Wales was 373,294. Of these 86,500, or 23 per cent. were in schools organised in accordance with the recommendations of the Hadow Report. My Noble Friend regrets that he can hold out no immediate prospect of such a stimulus as the hon. Member suggests.
§ Mr. LINDSAYWould it not be in the interests of the building trade, not to mention the children themselves, to press forward this matter as a policy of scientific public works; or is there some 954 matter other than financial standing in the way?
§ Mr. RAMSBOTHAMTo make the alteration suggested by the hon. Member would involve an alteration in the grant formula, as it hangs together, and my Noble Friend is not prepared to do that at the moment.